Opioid Addiction

Opioids are a type of drug which blocks pain, slows breathing, and gives an anti-depressing and calming feeling. Opioids include the illegal drug heroin, the synthetic drug fentanyl, and legal prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, and many others.

What is Opioid Addiction?

Opioid Addiction is a disease that causes major mental and physical issues. Opioid addiction is a compulsive behavior to use drugs with no regard for the consequences. Opioids are extremely addictive and a person who may be prescribed opioids after an injury or surgery can become addicted before they ever realize it, even when taking the prescribed dose. Some people are more prone to become addicted than others and the reason is unknown. 

When becoming addicted to a drug you begin to use it more and more over time, this leads to tolerance and a higher dose is needed to produce the same effect due to changes to the brain’s chemistry. The change in the brain’s chemistry also causes detrimental opioid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the drug which makes it so hard to stop once you have started.

Opioid addiction can lead to death by overdose. Overdosing on opioids is unfortunately very common today because of the strength of the drugs and the number of street drugs such as heroin that are laced with extremely powerful opioids like fentanyl.  Fentanyl can be up to fifty times stronger than heroin. Opioids cause death because When opioids are taken at a high enough dose, they slow the breathing enough to stop it and lead to unconsciousness and death.  If not treated immediately with medications like Narca (Naloxone) the person will likely not make it.

Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Addiction

Signs and symptoms of opioid addiction include uncontrollable cravings to use the drug no matter how negatively the behavior impacts one’s life with personal relationships, personal health, and finances.

Personality Traits of Addicts

A person may be more likely to become addicted to opioids if they possess the characteristics listed below.  A person suffering from drug addiction may exhibit the following personality traits:

1. Impulsive behavior
2. Compulsiveness
3. Inability to handle stress
4. Grandiose feelings
5. Nonconformity
6. Lacking Patience
7. Denial
8. Low self-esteem

To learn more about the personality of an addict click here.

Opioid Addiction Recovery

Addiction is a disease and relapse is very likely, which is why it is important to be mindful and continue treatment even after you get clean. Opioid addiction recovery requires continued medication, therapy, and visits to your addiction doctor.

Relapse rates for people with addiction are comparable to the rates of patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, it is just like most other chronic diseases and steps should be taken to prevent relapse.

Healthy and non-drug alternatives to pain management could be critical in recovering from opioid addiction. Over 90% of people who are recovering from opioid addiction say they used heroin because it is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription opioid medication.*

Addiction Outreach Clinic an Opioid Addiction Clinic in Ohio and Pennsylvania

Addiction Outreach Clinic (AOC) provides a practical and successful recovery program that is designed to allow you to keep working, maintain your relationships and continue living your life.  AOC offers a convenient once-a-month visit that includes testing, a physician visit, a counseling session, and a prescription for Subutex or Suboxone (Buprenorphine). The convenient full-service once-a-month appointment makes it easy for patients to stay in the program and maintain recovery which leads to a high success rate. 

Whether treatment is for you, a family member or a friend, we are happy to speak with you about our outpatient drug treatment program, and how AOC can help patients with their opioid addiction recovery. Since 2007, AOC has helped thousands of patients on their path to recovery.

Please read more about AOC, call us at 330-259-4849, or email to schedule an appointment – it’s fast, easy and confidential.  Most appointments can be scheduled in 24 to 48 hours.

Sources:

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids

*https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.html

*https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/opioid-addiction